Kids learning / trying / doing stuff is quite fun. Nephew just caught his first fish this weekend. He was jabbering about it too fast for me to even catch words. I got caught up in the enthusiasm and then just got the rest of the story from his mom.

Mmm, steak...

Oh yeah, Cass, I know I'm slightly allergic to avocados, peaches, cherries, almonds, etc. But I don't care! One of these days I'm going to end up in the hospital.

But it is possible that I just came back wrong in this way.

When I met some of the LAistas for the first time, I ordered a veggie burger cheese, avocado and bacon. I explained that I wasn't a vegetarian so the bacon was okay. Then I popped a Benedryl and continued explaining that I was allergic to avocados but that they were yummy. They say it is all about the first impression... Is this why Aimee and MM are always "in Michigan" when I am in LA?

So Kuma is still at large.

He came up to the door of the house, but as soon as I opened it, he left.

Running away is only fun if you get chased.

I think entire dating lives have hung on this premise.

A friend's dog once got away from me by backing out of his collar. We played the chase game, with him in the middle of a busy intersection of three streets. Luckily, cars stopped.

I think entire dating lives have hung on this premise.

I think there are even Rules.

Maxine does that to us. I can't tell you the number of times I called Mr. H crying because I can't find her, only to come back outside to find her sitting at the door.

Oz only runs away if he thinks I'm going to take his stick/leaf/gumball/whatever from him.

Neighbors have been trying to chase him which causes him to run out into the street. I went and tried to pin him in a yard, to no avail.

I still don't have him and I keep thinking, once a car hits him but good then all of this is over with.

From 'way back:

Is your girlfriend even on the same continent as you, Gus?

Sure. She's in the same room, in fact.

The same dimension? I don't know.

Ask other people who live with writers or scientists. They know.

Cool Idea # 6740789: Alcholol sniffing cut outs for keyboards.

Oh Kat, I hope Kuma comes inside. And soon.

Pets shouldn't make us scared for them.

Oh, Kat, we had a sheepdog who did that all the freaking time. So frustrating.

I heard someone honk on the road, loud and frustrated and I said, Oh, Kuma must be in the street. I walked out to the sidewalk and he's drinking at the sprinklers at our neighbors. I know that if I chase him he'll take off. So I sit at the intersection of our walkway and the sidewalk.

He comes running up to me, but an arm's length away, turns and goes down our walk at a full run, hoping the back gate is open.

But I fixed the gate that was broken a few weeks ago. And Polgara can attest, it now springs back with a frightening force because I moved the spring just a bit too tight. So now the door snaps back and is too tight for dumbass doggie to push through.

Kuma gets cornered by me and Lori. Lori scoops him up (which he hates) and drops him in the backyard. I decide to give him a bath (which he also hates) cause he smells and I'm mad.

So, there he is now, chained up and wet.

He may stay like that all night.